ABSTRACT
In all the tribes there are definite post-initiation institutions having political functions to perform. Each institution is called kiama. There are pre-initiation institutions similar in general set-up to the post-initiation lodges. Some of these are actually called biama and have an entrance fee. In all the tribes of the Unit the warriors of each territorial area had their council which was responsible for the actual conduct of military operations, though it would consult the elders responsible for the wider issues, such as strategical plans, the timing of a campaign, alliance, and so on. When a dispute is referred to an ad hoc bench the rival parties have the right, up to a point, to determine the composition of that bench. Each will be permitted to choose up to the number agreed upon but in practice he is always advised by his own athamaki.
